Shannon Welker Head Coach | Curators of the University of Missouri
Shannon Welker Head Coach | Curators of the University of Missouri
The University of Missouri women's gymnastics team advanced to its fifth consecutive NCAA Championship Regional Final after winning the Second Round quad meet at Alaska Airlines Arena in Seattle. The Tigers posted a score of 197.650, their highest postseason total to date, defeating No. 10 Georgia, No. 21 Arizona, and No. 26 Arizona State.
Redshirt senior Helen Hu made program history by earning the first perfect 10 in an NCAA meet for Missouri. This achievement marked the third straight meet where a Tiger gymnast scored a perfect mark in the final routine.
Amari Celestine, who claimed Session I's all-around title with a score of 39.450, received a 10 from one judge on her vault routine and finished with a 9.950 overall. Olivia Kelly also earned her first career 10 from a judge on bars, averaging 9.925 for her routine.
On floor exercise, Missouri opened the meet with a rotation score of 49.300 to take an early lead. Jocelyn Moore anchored this event with a team-leading score of 9.900, while freshman Kaia Tanskanen contributed with her second career floor routine and scored 9.875.
Missouri's victory continues its strong performance in NCAA competition this season.
"The Tigers (20-7, 5-3 SEC) earned victories over No. 10 Georgia (196.175), No. 21 Arizona (196.250) and No. 26 Arizona State (196.050) with their best postseason score ever," according to the team release.
"Hu's 10 marked Mizzou's third-straight meet scoring perfection in its final routine of the contest."
All three gymnasts to receive a perfect score from one judge during their routines were from Missouri: Amari Celestine, Helen Hu, and Olivia Kelly.
"Celestine, who won Session I's all-around title after scoring 39.450, notched a 10 on her vault routine, which earned 9.950," stated the release.
"Hu's 10 was the third unanimous score of her career."
"Kelly's bars routine, which averaged 9.925, also received a 10 from a judge for the first time in her career."
The Tigers will compete next in the Regional Final as they continue their pursuit of an NCAA championship berth.
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